The trek was more challenging than the 17 day Miratombo trek as it included 3 days in the jungle with lots of mud and rain and going to an altitude of 2841m. Our first day saw as starting in Moin and walking to San Edmundo where we were welcomed by the pulperia owners who made coffee and offered sweets and their house to our group. The hospitality of people along the coast to coast trek as well as the Miratombo trek was overwhelming. I don't know if people felt sorry for us walking about 270km acrooss country or if they admired us - either way, they were fantastic

The first couple of days saw a traipsing through ankle deepmud through Barbilla NP having indigenous guides from the Cabecares tribe guiding us through the jungle. We stayed for 2 nights with the indigenous community before trekking out of the jungle. We then crossed small communities and mountains, we crossed the continent with it highest points at 2500m and 2840m, a challenge for many of the venturers but a great achievement as well. We walked through small mountain communities with amazing views, pine forests and curious locals before finally descending to Bijagual and from there to Playa Palo Seco for a deserved day and a half of rest and relaxation.

I tremendously enjoyed both of the treks,however, I would considerthe coast to coast trek as the more challenging and scenically more rewarding trek. But the vistas of these treks will vanish or replaced by vistas of other places/countries. What will stay in my memory forever are the people - the families who took us into their home in Nicaragua, who offered coffee and a room for a group of 12; the couple in San Joaquin who gave us the key to the church hall so we can sleep there, Jose from Parrita who offered us to stay the church grounds (the first timeI slept in a church!), Don Luis of Hacienda Tiquirres who made us gallo pinto and coffee and sat with us around the table to talk about his life and who let mesleep on his porch so that I may watch the stars at night. And to the countless other people along the way who offered coffee and bread, smiles, a place to camp or opened up a community center for us - all those people have a special place in my heart and mind. And for this, I would trek another 500km as this is the best way to get to know a country and its people and culture.